HOLLYWOOD star George Clooney has risked provoking public anger again by underlining his view that Britain should return the priceless Elgin Marbles to Greece.

George Clooney has stood by his view that Britain should return the Elgin Marbles [PA]

The 52-year-old’s view was echoed by fellow star Bill Murray who said the relics had had a “nice stay” in the UK but it was time for them to return to Athens.

The pair said the British Museum should follow the lead of the Vatican and America's Getty Museum and return the art.

Mr Clooney said some people may disregard his views as that of an outsider but it was "probably a good idea" to hand over the sculptures taken from the Parthenon.

The Oscar-winning actor was speaking at a press conference at the National Gallery for new film The Monuments Men which tackles the issue of stolen art.

Bill Murray agreed with Mr Clooney on the Elgin Marbles [EPA]

It's probably a good idea if they found their way back

Mr Clooney said: "I stepped into one the other day, I was at a press conference and somebody brought it up.

"So I did a little research to make sure I wasn't completely out of my mind, and even in England the polling is in favour of returning the marbles.

"The Vatican returned parts of it, the Getty (Museum) returned parts of it. It is a question in that case of breaking up one piece of art, and whether that piece of art can be as best as possible put back together.

"So it's an argument to say, maybe that's one of those instances."

The writer, director and star of The Monuments Men was recently asked by a Greek journalist if the 2,500-year-old sculptures should be returned to Athens.

He told reporters at the Berlin Film Festival on Friday February 7 that it was the "right thing" to return the marbles that were obtained in the early nineteenth century.

The collection of classical Greek marble sculptures were moved to Britain by the Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce while he served as British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

The Elgin Marbles have been housed at the British Museum since the nineteenth century [PA]

Mr Clooney added: "There's certain pieces that you look at and think that actually would probably be the right thing to do.

"I know someone yesterday said, 'He's an American and he doesn't understand'. Well he's probably right.

"But I do think its worth having an open discussion about. I said it's probably a good idea if they found their way back."

Ghostbusters star Bill Murray, who also stars in The Monuments men, agreed with Mr Clooney.

He said: "It seems like it's a problem all over the world," said the Lost In Translation and Ghostbusters star.

"Who wins this art and where did it come from and do they have the right to get it back.

"It's had a very nice stay here, certainly, but London's gotten crowded and there's plenty of room back there in Greece.

"England could take the lead on this kind of thing - letting art go back where it came from.

"And then if they were all together, the Greeks are nothing but generous, they'd loan it back once in a while like people do with art, right?"

The debate over whether Britain should return the Elgin Marbles has raged on for decades [EXPRESS]

In the run up to the 2010 General Election Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg backed calls for the Elgin Marbles to be returned to Greece.

He criticised the British Museum for housing the statues saying it was akin to displaying Big Ben's clock in the Lourve.

In 2002 an independent poll by Ipsos MORI revealed 40 per cent of Britons are in favour of handing back the Parthenon to Athens.

Lord Elgin acquired the marbles from the Parthenon after obtaining a controversial permit from the Ottoman authorities to remove pieces from it.

Between 1801 and 1812 Lord Elgin's agents removed the sculptures and he sold it to the British Museum for less than the cost of bringing it to the UK.

He declined several higher offers from potential buyers including the former Emperor of the French Napoleon.

The legality and ethics of Lord Elgin's actions have debated ever since.

In 2011 Prime Minister David Cameron rejected calls for the Elgin Marbles to be returned to Greece during a debate in the House of Commons.

The Conservative leader said he had no intention of letting Britain "lose its marbles".